Goa to convene special session to ratify GST Bill: Laxmikant Parsekar

Chief Minister said GST Bill which was passedin Parliament earlier this month is being studied by Finance Department

The BJP-led Goa government will hold a special session soon to ratify the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 enabling implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST).

"We have decided to call a special session of the Assembly soon to ratify the crucial GST Bill that was recently passed in Parliament," Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters here on Tuesday, after chairing the state Cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister said the GST Bill which was passedin Parliament earlier this month is being studied by the Finance Department.

"The (Finance) department has recommended that we should immediately pass it (the Bill) by calling the session," he said.

The Chief Minister had during the monsoon session welcomed the passage of the Bill in Parliament saying it will help Goa, which is a tourist state.

The long-delayed GST Constitution Bill was passed by Parliament on August 8, marking a historic step for tax reforms which Prime Minister Narendra Modi said was "crucial" for ending tax terrorism besides reducing corruption and black money while making consumer the "king".

Meanwhile, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had also expressed happiness over passage of GST Bill in Parliament.

"With introduction of GST, exemptions regime will come to an end. This will attract new investments to Goa in the manufacturing sector on account of its better infrastructure. This will also benefit Goa in the long run," GCCI had said in a statement.